Breaking: US Defense Secretary says US doesn’t have proof chlorine, sarin used in Syria

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told Congress on Thursday that the US military does not have evidence that either chlorine or sarin were used in an alleged chemical attack in the Syrian town of Douma, adding that the Pentagon’s only proof that such an incident occurred has come from social media and media reports.

“There have been a number of these attacks. In many cases, you know we don’t have troops, we’re not engaged on the ground there, so I cannot tell you that we had evidence, even though we had a lot of media and social media indicators that either chlorine or sarin were used,” Mattis said, speaking to members of the House Armed Services Committee.

The defense secretary said that he believed that a chemical attack took place, “and we are looking for the actual evidence.”

Warning that he was concerned that a US military strike might lead to an “out of control” escalation in the Syrian war, Mattis said that Washington was “committed to ending that war through the Geneva process through the UN orchestrated effort.”

Mattis promised that the Pentagon would report to Congress if it decided to take action on Syria.

The defense secretary also accused Moscow of complicity in Syria’s alleged retention of a chemical weapons stockpile.

Improve the Discussion

Help us make this a great place for discussion by always working to improve the discussion in some way, however small. If you are not sure your post adds to the conversation, think over what you want to say and try again later.

The topics discussed here matter to us, and we want you to act as if they matter to you, too. Be respectful of the topics and the people discussing them, even if you disagree with some of what is being said.

You can flag a comment by clicking its flag icon. Website admin will know that you reported it. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

So it seems – the cow is from the ice. The US first fell for social media actionism but want solid evidence before they risk WW III for a few terrorists that might have staged a false flag incident.

Vote Up12Vote Down

Translate

EnglishShow all

Original

2018-04-12 19:04

Guest

brdlip

You can flag a comment by clicking its flag icon. Website admin will know that you reported it. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

U-turn without loosing face. No proof, but maybe yes, but we don’t discard future actions, but we don’t want escalation, but Assad still has CWs, but blahblahblahblah… Short story: Skripal 2.0

Vote Up5Vote Down

Translate

EnglishShow all

Original

2018-04-12 22:55

Member

Stern Daler

You can flag a comment by clicking its flag icon. Website admin will know that you reported it. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

LOL. Skripal 2.0. Funny.

p.s. They tested where Putin’s red line is.

Vote Up0Vote Down

Translate

EnglishShow all

Original

2018-04-13 07:41

Member

Jc Plancarte

You can flag a comment by clicking its flag icon. Website admin will know that you reported it. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

Staged by the terrorists at the request of rogue deep-State agents that do want to invade Syria and Iran and want to risk a confrontation with Russia. These Deep-Sate agents are now inside Trump’s cabinet, US senators like McCain and Graham, the entire CIA, and many in the Pentagon, Department of State, ect…. They are going to keep trying to get way with starting WW3, if Trump, or anybody, does not conduct a purge to cleanse the US government from this treasonous parasites!!!!

Vote Up1Vote Down

Translate

EnglishShow all

Original

2018-04-13 03:11

Member

Daeshbags Sux

You can flag a comment by clicking its flag icon. Website admin will know that you reported it. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

I agree Mr.Plancarte!

Vote Up0Vote Down

Translate

EnglishShow all

Original

2018-04-13 07:21

Member

Stern Daler

You can flag a comment by clicking its flag icon. Website admin will know that you reported it. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

IMHO the current bunch is into another business line then Tillerson and co – CIA is not into high tech rocket war. The White Helmet were IMHO inspired by the loose talk about red lines. I would not call that by request but the politicians like Macron asked for a false flag attack to happen. And now all have a problem to row back without loosing face. It also seems to me like some politicians, press and White Helmets have no idea what amount of preparations, gas, gear and planning You need for a real attack with chlorine. For 50… Read more »

Vote Up0Vote Down

Translate

EnglishShow all

Original

2018-04-13 08:09

Guest

Vladimir Belov

You can flag a comment by clicking its flag icon. Website admin will know that you reported it. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

US DoD is not interested in weak threat. They need monster Russia to get wealthy being for themselves. DoD is not to escalate the case because they loose it (moneywise) if they win and they loose it if got beaten by Russia in the regional battle. In the last case they may win future funding but the head commanders would be out of business then.

Vote Up0Vote Down

Translate

EnglishShow all

Original

2018-04-13 06:34

Member

Daeshbags Sux

You can flag a comment by clicking its flag icon. Website admin will know that you reported it. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

In fact, it’s not so at commanders level, they don’t make so much money by US standards : a retired general may not earn more than $7-8k a month. It’s more at the M.I.C level you have to think : just about Lockheed, Boeing and Northrop, you count in trillions!

Vote Up0Vote Down

Translate

EnglishShow all

Original

2018-04-13 07:46

Member

Stern Daler

You can flag a comment by clicking its flag icon. Website admin will know that you reported it. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

Interesting line of thought. But IMHO the current bunch is into other business then Tillerson and co – CIA is not into high tech rocket war.

Vote Up0Vote Down

Translate

EnglishShow all

Original

2018-04-13 07:51

Member

Daeshbags Sux

You can flag a comment by clicking its flag icon. Website admin will know that you reported it. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

As for North Korea, Mattis seems again to be the voice of reason in US administration! Any way, let’s be clear : If the US/Saudi/Qatari project for a gas pipeline to the EU happens, Russian economy might be hit in a very hard way : sales of gas to the EU is their main source of foreign currency and their main export product! Putin simply will NEVER allow this to happen, he’ll probably even prefer to either spread nuclear waste all along Syrian borders to make these no go zones or would attack Saudi Arabia to prevent this. Attacking directly… Read more »